So I had planned on writing up a post about my trip to Palmyra, and I still will, but this has been what has set my heart a fire the last few days. I also had the opportunity to talk with my father about it, as he does not read here much and I knew it would not be spoilers for him. Talking with him and how cool he thought it was redoubled the fire for this post and so the other must take a place on the back burner for a time.
I want to talk about, as the title implies, the 21st night of September, but in the year 1823. Well, the 21st night and the 22nd of September and to be fair I want to talk about not just 1823 but 24, 25, 26, and 27. So buckle up, this post is a period piece! [que earth wind and fire!]
Lets start with a bit of background, but I guess before that the first thing that needs to be understood is when Jewish days begin. As many of you know the calendar switches for Jews at sun down and not midnight as for us. So really the 21str night of September is early in the morning of 22nd. This will be understandably important a bit later.
Now to that background I had mentioned. I was at the Hill Cumorah on April 12th, it was awesome in every way but I could not help but feel a bit chagrined that it was not April 6th. How cool would have been to be in the area of the first vision and church reorganization on the day the church was reorganized. But alas I was not. In my scripture study on the Tuesday after I got back, I hit the books specifically focusing on Joseph Smith History. Perhaps there was a cool thing that happened in palmyra on the 12th. From what I could tell there was not. But while looking I came across the account of the Angel Moroni appearing to the young prophet.
The section starts with Joseph saying he had retired to bed on the 21st night of September and began to pray for his sins and to know his standing before God. Then the Angel of the Lord appeared and spoke much to him. But as I read this the date stood out to me. The 21st of September? Why that day? Im sure Joseph had prayed before then, so why then?
September 22nd 1823
I googled this day and found some really cool stuff. 9/21/1823 is smack dab in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles. Now any one who has read the scriptures will recognize this as one of the Pilgrimage feasts where every male Jew is supposed to travel to Jerusalem and build a tent and celebrate this festival. Jesus does it at least 3 time recorded in the New Testament.
But do you know what this festival is celebrating? Fear not, this is the thing I was about to explain. The Feast of Tabernacles commemorates 2 important things in the Jewish life. The less spiritually important of the two is the turning of the seasons and the bounteous harvest about to begin. The second is in remembrance of the deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt, specifically focusing on the end of the 40 years in the wilderness where they have camped in tents.
As countless Jews, still the chosen people of the Lord, celebrate these events on the other side of the world; the God who commanded them in fullness of this celebration sent His angel to declare that the field is white and ready to harvest. It was time to set the new prophet about his work of harvest. A new Moses call, a long time of wandering in a spiritual wilderness had come to an end.
But this was not all, in the same way this Angel appear 4 times Joseph was to return to the plate for the next 4 years.
September 22 1824
A year has gone by and Joseph returns to the Hill Cumorah and to the plates. But could this 22nd be as auspicious as the previous?
In 1824 September 22 is the Eve of Rosh Hashanah, the eve of the new year. As Joseph prepared for the Plates God’s chosen people prayed to God that He bring forth bread from the earth for His people, and that He that creates the trees and branches bring forth a good year to the world. (These are rough translations of the actual prayers the Jews pray on their new years eve)
A day of prayer and preparation for the marvelous works and wonders the Lord is about to bring forth.
September 22, 1825
As Joseph knelt at the side of the plates being instructed by the angel and praying for forgiveness and to draw nearer to God. Gods chosen people through out the world knelt in prayer and fasting on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement.
Set aside from any other to be a special day to be reconciled to God, a day of forgiveness and drawing nearer to God. Countless millions world wide praying to the Father to bring them back into His presence and one learning and preparing to bring the Father’s church back to them.
It is not insignificant that the Lord was preparing to bring forth a new testament of He who made the day of Atonement possible, on the day set aside for the very remembrance thereof.
September 22, 1826
This year the day falls on the start of Leil Selichot which is a special time of prayer and fasting, to prepare oneself for the great and holy days which are to come. This time is called the prelude to the season of renewal and is marked with prays such as these:
“Turn us to You, Adonai, and we will return. Renew our days as of old”
“Lead me in Your truth, and teach me. You are God my Helper, and for You I do Wait all the day. Open my heart to your teaching, and I will make haste to do your commandments.”
“May the source of peace in the heavens bring peace to us and to all Israel, and to all of mankind, Amen”
On the year eve before getting the plates wherewith God set to turn His people back to Him and lead them in truth, His chosen people knelt and prayed for exactly that.
September 22, 1827
This is the day that Joseph got the Plates but is also the first day of the Jewish New Year. As I mentioned somewhat on the 1824 the focus of the Jewish new year is to pray that God bring forth His mighty miracles in the year to come, it also carries with it the sense of renewal and starting something new.
On the day the chosen people of God were celebrating a new beginning, The Lord God Almighty began anew to work in His Vineyard.
There is also an article by Lenet Hadley Read entitled The Golden Plates and the Feast of Trumpets from January 2000 that really dives in on this last day here. I thought about summarizing their article but felt that would not do it justice. So, I direct you to it.
Conclusion
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted.
But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I [the Lord] will not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before me.
The Lord has not forgotten His chosen people nor would He leave the world in darkness. It is no coincidence that the Lord set his hand to prune and work His vineyard for the last time in time with the celebrations He commanded his people to uphold.
Do you remember the 21st night of September? Because the Lord does.
Hope some of you find this as cool as I did.
As always Im praying for thee; please pray for me.
Janson, You never disappoint! Great article! Thanks so much for sharing your faith and insights!